Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Henry Smith Foundation – Maternity Equity Fund – deadline 14 October 2026
20 August 2026
The new Maternity Equity Fund is part of the Henry Smith Foundation Getting Started programme, which supports early intervention from conception up to and including birth, helping give babies and families the best start in life. Who is eligible to apply? Applications will be considered from charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK, including: Registered charities ...
Free taster DJ and Broadcasting Sessions for young people on 1 Sep
20 August 2026
Gold Dust Hub CIC are hosting free DJ and Broadcasting sessions this Summer, designed to give young people a hands-on, inspiring introduction to the worlds of basic DJing, Broadcasting, and Music Production. This program is a fantastic way for young people to discover their creative potential and gain real-world experience in a warm, safe, and supportive ...
De-escalation Training – in a trauma informed context
19 August 2026
RVA will be hosting free de-escalation training for those working for or volunteering in charities or community groups in Reading. Provisional date: 17 November, 10am – 1pm, at RISC The aim: to help you adequately respond to situations that may arise in your charity when delivering your services, whether one-to-one or group services, in a way that ...
Fundraising Forum Nov 2026 – online via Zoom
19 August 2026
A forum for those who are responsible for fundraising within Reading’s charities This will be our second Forum following the session in July. This Fundraising Forum is for those who lead on fundraising in Reading’s charities who would like to discuss specific fundraising related themes and for peer networking. We run three forums per year and the ...
Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership – new Reading Threshold Guidance
19 August 2026
There is new Reading Threshold Guidance, which is available on the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership website: https://www.berkshirewestsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/scp/threshold-guidance/reading-threshold-guidance. The guidance has been developed to support practitioners across the partnership to make informed decisions about the levels of need, appropriate support pathways, and referrals into services. It is intended to provide a consistent framework and common language when ...
Trustee Training with RVA – Nov 2026
19 August 2026Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of ...
Safeguarding and DBS checks: update to the legal definition of ‘regulated activity’ when working with children
18 August 2026
From 1 September 2026 the law will change with reference to the definition of ‘regulated activity’ when working/volunteering with children. The current definition is that certain activity is not regulated activity if it is appropriately supervised by someone else who has a full DBS check in place. This will change from 1 September 2026 so that ...
Men as carers – could you help to shape this project?
18 August 2026
Healthwatch Reading and Wokingham Borough are working in collaboration with Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and Age UK Berkshire to explore the experience of unpaid male carers. Carers UK defines an unpaid carer as someone who is providing unpaid care and support to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, ...
Volunteer Stories – Oisin telephone befriender with Berkshire Vision
13 August 2026
Being visually impaired makes someone far more likely to be socially isolated. The Berkshire Vision telephone befriending service seeks to combat this by matching its members with a volunteer who calls each week (or however often works best) to make sure they have someone to talk to. Oision has been a Volunteer Telephone Befriender for two ...
Become our Treasurer and help us strengthen our finances and increase our impact
13 August 2026
RVA is seeking to appoint a new Treasurer to join our experienced trustee board The Treasurer oversees the financial affairs of Reading Voluntary Action and ensures they are conducted in accordance with legal requirements, good practice, and the organisation’s ethical values. RVA employs an in-house bookkeeper. The Treasurer supports the board in maintaining sound financial management ...
Land, Bridge Street, Caversham – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land, Bridge Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 8AA Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for the sale of the freehold land at Bridge Street, Caversham. How to submit a proposal If you ...
Reading Road, Woodley, Land– third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land at Reading Road, Woodley, Reading, RG5 3DB Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these freehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community ...
Caversham Court Stables – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property leasehold: Caversham Court Stables, Church Road, Caversham, RG4 7AD Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these leasehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community ...
Congratulations to Berkshire MS Therapy Centre on their Safe and Sound Award!
12 August 2026
We’re pleased to share that Berkshire MS Therapy Centre have recently undergone an external review of their governance as a charity and successfully been awarded the Safe and Sound Good Governance Award! Well done to the whole team. In this article we took the opportunity to interview trustee Ros Hatt on her experience and what ...
Callington Road, Land – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land at Callington Road, Reading, RG2 7AQ Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these freehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community Sector ...
Reading VCS Assembly: What does the focus on neighbourhood mean for us?
11 August 2026
Join us for the Reading VCS Assembly As health and local authority partners move towards neighbourhood working what does that mean for the voluntary sector in Reading? Neighbourhood working is about bringing health, social care, voluntary and community organisations together to improve the wellbeing of local people. By focusing on the strengths and needs of each community, ...
Reading VCS Safety and Safeguarding Forum
11 August 2026
The Safety and Safeguarding Forum is for any charity, voluntary organisation or community group concerned for the safety and safeguarding Reading residents. Book a space on Eventbrite The forum agenda will include: The emerging priorities for the Reading Adults Safeguarding Partnership – to consider our own shared aims and the resources, capacity and influence we need to achieve ...
Small Groups’ Forum Oct 2026 – Committee skills, funding, networking and more
11 August 2026Are you a small or new community group or charity? Would you like top tips on running a group, finding funding and the opportunity to network with other small groups? Join us for our next Small Groups’ Forum in October. We run three forums per year and the topics are chosen by small groups like yours. Theme ...
National Lottery-funded HIV and LGBTQ+ support project is underway across Berkshire
11 August 2026Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), a charity supporting people affected by HIV and providing LGBTQ+ support across Berkshire, is pleased to share that its new project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, is now well underway. The project brings together people living with HIV and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, with a focus on ...
Local Children’s Home seeks small team of volunteers
10 August 2026A Local Children’s Home in Reading is seeking a small team of volunteers to help with fence painting and general gardening tasks. This could be ideally suited to a small corporate team looking for a volunteering day in the local area. However, those participating in the volunteering would need to have a current basic DBS check. Materials, ...